Support stanchion for luggage carrier

Abstract

A support stanchion for a vehicle luggage carrier which provides a sleek aerodynamic appearance while eliminating exposed support mounting fasteners. The stanchions are utilized to support the frame of the carrier in spaced apart relation to the vehicle surface and are secured to the surface by one or more fasteners. Each stanchion includes a support base mounted directly to the surface and a support cover which fits over the base to conceal the fasteners and the interior of the stanchion. The base includes a plurality of apertures adapted to receive tabs formed in the cover and an elongated groove to receive a lip on the cover. The rigid construction of the base and the pliable construction of the cover allows it to simply snap over the base. Once the cover is attached, the stanchion has a sleek integral appearance.

I claim: 
     
       1. A support stanchion for a vehicle luggage carrier adapted to be secured to a surface of the vehicle, said stanchion comprising: a base member secured to the vehicle surface using at least one fastener extending therethrough, said base member including at least one slot formed along at least a first peripheral edge of said base and a raised ridge along at least a second peripheral edge of said base, said ridge having an elongated groove extending longitudinally along an outwardly disposed surface of said ridge; and   a cover detachably secured to said base member forming said stanchion body while concealing said at least one fastener, said cover including locking tab means engageable with said at least one slot of said base and elongated lip formed along a side edge of said cover on an inwardly disposed surface thereof lockingly received within said elongated groove of said base to detachably secure said cover to said base permitting selective access to said at least one fastener, said cover extending over said ridge such that said ridge supports said cover.   
     
     
       2. The stanchion as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one slot includes a plurality of spaced apart slots along said first peripheral edge and said tab means comprising a plurality of spaced apart locking tabs corresponding to said slots, said locking tabs received within said slots and said lip received within said groove to detachably secure said cover to said base. 
     
     
       3. The stanchion as defined in claim 2 wherein said base member has a central raised ridge extending substantially the length of said base, said central ridge and said peripheral ridge engageable with said cover to provide support of said cover. 
     
     
       4. The stanchion as defined in claim 3 wherein said central ridge includes at least one removed portion having an aperture to receive said at least one fastener. 
     
     
       5. The stanchion as defined in claim 3 wherein said base member includes a third raised ridge extending substantially parallel to said central ridge and engageable with said cover to provide support thereof. 
     
     
       6. The stanchion as defined in claim 5 wherein said base member is formed of a rigid plastic material and said cover is formed of a flexible plastic material such that said cover may be pliably fitted over said base member, said cover forming the configuration of said stanchion. 
     
     
       7. A support stanchion for a vehicle luggage carrier adapted to be secured to a surface of the vehicle to support at least one rail above the vehicle surface, said stanchion comprising: a base member secured to the vehicle surface using fastening means extending therethrough, said base member including a plurality of apertures formed along at least a first side edge and an end edge and a raised ridge formed along at least a second side edge of said base, said ridge having an elongated groove formed along an outwardly disposed surface of said ridge below the top edge of said ridge; and   a cover detachably secured to said base member forming said stanchion body while concealing said fastening means, said cover including a plurality of locking tabs formed along at least a first side edge and end edge corresponding to said plurality of apertures of said base member and an elongated lip formed along at least a second side edge on an inwardly disposed surface of said cover;   said locking tabs being received within corresponding apertures and said lip of said cover being received within said groove such that said cover extends over said ridge for support of said cover to detachably secure said cover to said base thereby forming said support stanchion.   
     
     
       8. The stanchion as defined in claim 7 wherein said plurality of apertures comprises slots formed along a first side edge and an end edge of said base and said raised ridge is formed along a second side edge of said base. 
     
     
       9. The stanchion as defined in claim 8 wherein said plurality of locking tabs are formed along a first side edge and an end edge of said cover and said lip is formed on an inner surface along a second side edge of said cover whereby said tabs are positioned within corresponding slots and said lip is passed over said ridge to seat within said groove to secure said cover to said base. 
     
     
       10. The stanchion as defined in claim 7 wherein said base member includes three substantially parallel raised ridges to provide support for said cover. 
     
     
       11. The stanchion as defined in claim 7 wherein said base member and said cover include tongues adapted to be matingly received within a rail of the carrier, said stanchion maintaining the rail of the carrier in spaced apart relation to the vehicle surface. 
     
     
       12. A support stanchion for a vehicle luggage carrier adapted to be secured to a surface of the vehicle to support at least one rail above the vehicle surface, said stanchion comprising: a base member secured to the vehicle surface using fastening means extending through said base member, said base member including a plurality of slots formed along a first side edge and an end edge thereof and a raised ridge formed along a second side edge thereof, said raised ridge having an elongated groove formed therein; and   a cover detachably secured to said base member forming said stanchion body while concealing said fastening means, said cover including a plurality of locking tabs formed along a first side edge and an end edge of said cover and an elongated lip formed along a second side edge of said cover;   said locking tabs being received within said slots of said base member and said lip of said cover being lockingly received within said groove of said base member to detachably secure said cover to said base thereby forming said support stanchion.   
     
     
       13. The stanchion as defined in claim 12 wherein said base member includes three substantially parallel raised ridges to provide support for said covers. 
     
     
       14. The stanchion as defined in claim 12 wherein said base member and said cover include at least one tongue adapted to be matingly received within the end of a rail of the carrier, the rail being supported in spaced apart relation to the vehicle surface. 
     
     
       15. The stanchion as defined in claim 12 wherein said base member is formed of a rigid plastic material and said cover is formed of a flexible plastic material such that said cover may be pliably attached to said base member. 
     
     
       16. In a vehicle luggage carrier adapted to be secured to a surface of the vehicle, the carrier including at least one rail supported in spaced apart relation to the vehicle surface by a support stanchion, said stanchion comprising: a base member secured to the vehicle surface by fastening means extending through said base member, said base member including a plurality of apertures formed along a first side edge and an end edge of said base and a raised ridge formed along at least a portion of a second side of said base; and   a cover detachably secured to said base member forming said stanchion body while concealing said fastening means, said cover including a plurality of locking tabs formed along a first side edge and an end edge of said cover and a locking lip formed along at least a portion of a second side edge of said cover;   said raised ridge of said base including an elongated groove for receiving said locking lip of said cover and said locking tabs received within corresponding apertures of said base member to detachably secure said cover to said base member.   
     
     
       17. A vehicle luggage carrier mountable to a surface of the vehicle, said luggage carrier comprising: a plurality of support stanchions mounted to the vehicle surface, said stanchions including a base member secured to the vehicle surface by fastening means extending through said base member, said base member having a plurality of apertures formed along a first side edge and an end edge of said base and a raised ridge formed along a second side edge of said base and a cover detachably secured to said base member forming said stanchion body while concealing said fastening means, said cover having a plurality of locking tabs formed along a first side edge and an end edge and locking lip means formed along at least a portion of a second side edge of said cover, said raised ridge of said base including means for receiving said lip means of said cover to detachably secure said cover to said base member; and   a rail extending between pairs of support stanchions, said rail secured to a tongue formed by said cover and base member of said stanchion, said tongue matingly received within an end of said rial of said carrier, said rail being supported in spaced apart relation to the vehicle surface.